Hip Hop meets Lindy

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Ron · #46 Post by **Ron** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 2:28 pm

I haven't read the swing DJs forum for a couple months but I come back and it's the same thing. A guy asks a simple question and the usual reactionary ones jump in with the same tired "don't polute Lindy Hop" drivel. Don't you guys ever get tired of espousing the same tired old arguments? And please, I hope you recognize that as a rhetorical question.

Chris-
Back to your original question on songs good for Hip-Hop Lindy. I don't play a lot of them, so I'm no expert, but here are few that I've played over the years that I like. I like the ones that have a jazzy feel or at least have horns or something else that make em flow a little better than the average hip-hop song.

Cut Chemist Suite - Ozomotli (200)
Lucas with the Lid Off - Lucas (185)
Hi De Ho - K7 (196)
Why Didn't You Call Me - Macy Gray (184)

And my new favorite:
Stitched Up - Herbie Hancock w/John Mayer (190)
This song kicks butt. It's getting a lot of airplay on the radio hereabouts.

Mr Awesomer · #47 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:40 pm

Ron wrote:I haven't read the swing DJs forum for a couple months but I come back and it's the same thing. A guy asks a simple question and the usual reactionary ones jump in with the same tired "don't polute Lindy Hop" drivel. Don't you guys ever get tired of espousing the same tired old arguments? And please, I hope you recognize that as a rhetorical question.

Nice to see you haven't changed either. Look in the mirror much?

Lawrence · #48 Post by **Lawrence** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:12 pm

Julius wrote:Lawrence, do you do hip hop lindy? Do you like it? Do you feel as integrated with the music as when you dance to "earthy swing" or however it was you described the music you most like to dance lindy hop to?

julius wrote:I change my lindy hop so that it is far more bouncy and incorporates a lot more charleston. It feels "better", for lack of a better word. I guess you could call it an earlier version of lindy hop if you wanted to, although essentially I'm doing the same moves.

Yes, I do it and I like it. It also is good for new students who have trouble connecting with old music, but enjoy applying what they know about swing dancing to more modern music. It makes the dance more accessible and less obsolete.

Indeed, I think you answered your follow-up question. Same moves, same dance, but with a different "feel" (which I suspect was the point of Rayned's Rhetorical question). The reason it works is the similar rhythmic structure.

julius · #49 Post by **julius** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:25 am

I can't change lindy hop enough to fit hip hop so that it still feels like lindy hop.

Like I said, hip hop is half-time to lindy hop, or you are double-timing it to hip hop. And the pulse of hip hop is not even, unlike the swing music lindy hop developed to. I don't think the dance fits the rhythmic structure at all. How do you see lindy hop as fitting hip hop's rhythmic structure?

CafeSavoy · #50 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:32 am

julius wrote:I can't change lindy hop enough to fit hip hop so that it still feels like lindy hop.

Like I said, hip hop is half-time to lindy hop, or you are double-timing it to hip hop. And the pulse of hip hop is not even, unlike the swing music lindy hop developed to. I don't think the dance fits the rhythmic structure at all. How do you see lindy hop as fitting hip hop's rhythmic structure?

I'll leave you guys to argue music theory, but to me, alot of hip-hop has more of a charleston feel. Unless you are talking about the neo-soul hip-hop or the house influenced hip-hop which tends to have a different feel.

Mr Awesomer · #51 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:37 am

The shit you see in Britney Spears videos is also called "Hip Hop." haha

Mr Awesomer · #52 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:38 am

CafeSavoy wrote:but to me, alot of hip-hop has more of a charleston feel.

I see that as well. Minn, Corrina, Lisa and Peter did an interesting Charleston number to "Without Me."

SirScratchAlot · #53 Post by **SirScratchAlot** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:12 pm

what the hell you guys talking about? whats Hip Hop? which aspect of Hip Hop dance?

some of you are hitting the nail on the head but then your thumb as well..

Cafe savoy is atleast right that there is no one feel,tempo or style...(just like swing era!)

when I hear people talk about teaching Hop Hop, its alwasy what Roob said , the stuff on MTV, which is done at Bars where they play the "top 10" hits and everybody is drinkin having fun and rubbing up against each other and doing the lates steps and moves in Video's.

This Mainstream or Pop aspect of Hip hop has been leaking into the west coast swing world for awhile, DJ's like John Festus was throwing down at last year America's Classic in Houston (Mario's event).
I was just doing regular west coast swing is what id call it and I had a blast dancing to it...

however, This is not the "Hip Hop" I would ever hear or see in a "Hip Hop" club, its totally different, not only in feel but in tempo, and every club is different while all inclusive, they do focus on different aspects of dance.
from the slower tempos which consist more uprock styles like fulmar,cripwalk,popping, to the faster funky rhythms of break,Boogalu,harlem shake etc.....and last couple years atleast in LA, its been about Krump dancing, this music is even more different.(check out the documentary Rize)

not much different then a Bunch of "Pop and Lockers" or "Breakers" trying to swing by looking the Gap commercial,swing kids, MTV....yet of all people it seems bu this discussion the dancers are falling for the same mistake.reverse, trying to grasp Hip hop...

MTV would like to keep Hip Hop 1 thing and 1 style that you all seem to refer to, but its alot more then that... its a Culture..that revolves around Music,Art,Language,Fashion and dance...not much different then the swing culture of the late 30's.

different rhythms,beats and tempos bring out various feelings and various styles emerge from these to become different dances...no different then swing era music...and its all fun no doubt, but as humans we all pick out our own favorite aspects and with that we have our favorite flava's..

I certainly have no idea what your alls Hip Hop scene is like, so I cant comment, as Im sure your having fun which is most important, But here in LA i can say we dance to a live TurnTablist and continue the "back n forth" or "Call and repsonse" aspects of why I like authentic Jazz dance, as It seems they know how to play to dancers better then Jazz Musicans these days...

If anyone is trying to expand on the music they dance to while still doing a traditional Lindy Hop check out Break beat style of Hip Hop...its fun...

ok, go back to your britney and P diddy...<----funny sarcasim

Mr Awesomer · #54 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:24 pm

SirScratchAlot wrote:I certainly have no idea what your alls Hip Hop scene is like,

I'm sure they don't either. HAHAHAHAH

julius · #55 Post by **julius** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:20 am

CafeSavoy wrote: I'll leave you guys to argue music theory, but to me, alot of hip-hop has more of a charleston feel. Unless you are talking about the neo-soul hip-hop or the house influenced hip-hop which tends to have a different feel.

can't argue with that.

Lawrence · #56 Post by **Lawrence** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:16 pm

I see that as well. Minn, Corrina, Lisa and Peter did an interesting Charleston number to "Without Me."

I don't know the lingo for what I mean by "Hip Hop," and I definitely might be using the wrong terms, but "Without Me" is exactly the type of "Hip hop" song I'm referring to--indeed, its the that I have played that some newbie Swing-nazis here in Austin have found most offensive. Not coincidentally, it also packed the floor and prompted five college kids to ask for "more Eminem" or more "Rap."

SirScratchAlot · #57 Post by **SirScratchAlot** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:16 pm

GuruReuben wrote:
SirScratchAlot wrote:I certainly have no idea what your alls Hip Hop scene is like,
I'm sure they don't either. HAHAHAHAH

well, thats obvious, But atleast readers wanting to know some correct information on Hip Hop got it from a Lindy Hopper that dances to it on a normal basis...

Instead of swingDJ's Trying to debate what Hip Hop is , and what dance to do to it...

SirScratchAlot · #58 Post by **SirScratchAlot** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:35 pm

Lawrence wrote:
I see that as well. Minn, Corrina, Lisa and Peter did an interesting Charleston number to "Without Me."
I don't know the lingo for what I mean by "Hip Hop," and I definitely might be using the wrong terms, but "Without Me" is exactly the type of "Hip hop" song I'm referring to--indeed, its the that I have played that some newbie Swing-nazis here in Austin have found most offensive. Not coincidentally, it also packed the floor and prompted five college kids to ask for "more Eminem" or more "Rap."

"WithOut Me" is straight Rap... perfectly offensive isnt it??? we used it for the Lyrics....and because I got an Early release copy of the music months in advance so we could perform right when when CD came out....

its a pretty classic Crip walk type song.... it's easy to west coast swing too.

Lawrence · #59 Post by **Lawrence** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:46 pm

SirScratchAlot wrote:perfectly offensive isnt it??? we used it for the Lyrics

If you mean "perfectly offensive" in that it is offensive to those who can't take a joke, and ironically funny for those who CAN, then YES!

That's exactly why I have played it multiple times despite complaints (or, perhaps BECAUSE of the complaints). (And because it IS danceable and gets most people dancing).

Guess who's back... back again...
Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, ba da bomp.

Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody... just follow me,
Cuz we need a little... controversy
Cuz it feels so empty... without me.

SirScratchAlot · #60 Post by **SirScratchAlot** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 2:47 am

Lawrence wrote:
SirScratchAlot wrote:perfectly offensive isnt it??? we used it for the Lyrics
If you mean "perfectly offensive" in that it is offensive to those who can't take a joke, and ironically funny for those who CAN, then YES! That's exactly why I have played it multiple times despite complaints (or, perhaps BECAUSE of the complaints). (And because it IS danceable and gets most people dancing).

Guess who's back... back again...
Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, ba da bomp.

Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody... just follow me,
Cuz we need a little... controversy
Cuz it feels so empty... without me.

Hehehehe I know! Lol

Its so perfect that I also used that as my introduction to MCing the Caberet Show in Herrang...however I "C-walked" out wearing an early 1930's 3 peice suit...

that shit was so funny I remember looking down from the stage in the crowd seeing Steven Mitchell busting up to the point of loosing it, which made break my straight face...and crack...which in turn made the room crack up...hahaha good times...